49 Afghans Killed After UK Data Breach, Says Report  

The warning came as representatives of Pakistan and the Taliban held a new round of talks in Istanbul aimed at easing tensions and building on an earlier ceasefire agreement reached in Doha.

Asif, speaking to reporters in the city of Sialkot on Saturday, said that those who had taken part in the Doha negotiations on behalf of the Taliban had grown up in Pakistan. He led the Pakistani delegation in those talks, while Taliban Defence Minister Yaqub Mujahid and intelligence official Abdul Haq Wasiq represented the movement.

The minister noted that both sides had agreed to an immediate ceasefire in Doha, and that the second round of discussions was now under way in Türkiye. He said relations between the two neighbours remained strained despite Pakistan having hosted Afghan refugees for four decades, and he questioned why the Taliban continued to act in what he described as a hostile manner towards Islamabad.

Asif alleged that the Afghan Taliban were now functioning as a proxy force for India against Pakistan. He added that Afghan migrants had taken a significant share of Pakistan’s labour market and trade, saying that the two countries should aim to live side by side as neighbours in an atmosphere of fraternity and respect.

Referring to the outcome of the Doha negotiations, the minister said there had been no violent incidents in the past four or five days, but that Pakistan would move to open warfare with Afghanistan if the current dialogue failed.

Since the Doha agreement, attacks by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a group aligned with the Afghan Taliban, have halted. The TTP has carried out no assaults on Pakistani security forces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province since the ceasefire came into effect.

In the ongoing Istanbul talks, six Taliban officials from the ministries of interior, defence and foreign affairs are meeting seven Pakistani diplomats and security representatives to discuss implementation of the Doha accord.

According to Pakistani officials, Islamabad has asked the Taliban to prevent TTP activities on Afghan territory. In return, the Taliban have urged Pakistan to stop supporting groups opposed to their rule.

Al Qashouti has served as Chargé d’Affaires at Qatar’s embassy in Kabul for the past three years. He succeeds Saeed bin Mubarak Al Khayarin, whose term as ambassador to Afghanistan recently concluded.

According to the official decree published by QNA, the Emir’s decision takes immediate effect and will also be published in the state’s Official Gazette.

Qatar maintains close relations with the Taliban and has frequently acted as a mediator between the group and the international community. The Gulf nation has also played a significant role in facilitating the release of American and Western hostages held in Afghanistan.

According to the traders, around 2,000 containers at Torkham and Spin Boldak and another 800 at Karachi Port have been stranded over the past three days. Pakistani officials reportedly informed them that the Torkham and Spin Boldak crossings will remain closed indefinitely.

Traders expressed concern that many of the containers carry perishable goods such as fruit and vegetables, which risk spoiling if delays persist.

Audio recordings shared by Afghan traders suggest that the resumption of cargo loading in Karachi could take time. Pakistani transport companies have reportedly been instructed not to handle Afghan-owned containers.

Afghan business owners have called on both the Taliban administration and the Pakistani government to “keep politics out of trade” and prevent further disruption to commerce.

The closure of key border crossings including Torkham, Spin Boldak, Ghulam Khan, Angoor Adda and Kharlachi has entered its third day, halting the movement of goods and passengers between the two countries.

According to Pakistani news outlets, camps in several districts including Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Lakki Marwat, Bannu and Mansehra have been shut down. Camps in Charsadda and Malakand have also been closed.

In an official directive, the federal government ordered provincial authorities to transfer the land used for the camps to state ownership and prevent the re-establishment of any refugee settlements in those areas.

The Express Tribune reported that Punjab province has simultaneously launched the third phase of its nationwide campaign to identify and deport “illegal” foreign nationals. Officials are tracking Afghan citizens who lack valid documents or whose residence permits have expired for more than a year.

The move marks another escalation in Pakistan’s deteriorating relations with the Taliban, following recent cross-border clashes and military tensions between the two sides.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, ministry spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said that organisations such as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) pose a shared threat to regional peace and stability, and that collective action is needed to counter them.

“There must be a serious and sustained fight against terrorist organisations like the TTP,” Khan said, urging the Taliban to uphold their responsibility to prevent cross-border militancy.

He added that Pakistan respects Afghanistan’s sovereignty and remains committed to strengthening dialogue and cooperation to address mutual security concerns.

Khan emphasised that Pakistan has consistently prioritised diplomacy, even as it faces continuing threats from militant hideouts and sanctuaries inside Afghanistan.